May 02, 2008	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 25, 1429

BAQUBA, May 1: Twin suicide blasts ripped through a wedding party in Iraq on Thursday, killing at least 35 people and wounding 66, an Iraqi army officer said.

The suicide bombers blew themselves up at Balad Ruz, about 75 kilometres north of Baghdad in the province of Diyala in a street where guests were gathering on the traditional day for weddings, on Thursday.

They detonated their explosive vests in quick succession, said Major General Abdel Karim al-Rubaie, head of the provincial military command.

“The first bomber blew himself up amid a crowd of people. Minutes later another bomber blew himself up as people were trying to rescue the victims of the first attack.” Earlier in the day, a car bomb blew up in central Baghdad as a US military patrol passed, killing at least eight people and wounding 21, security officials said. A US armoured car was badly damaged, witnesses said.

The bombings came as Moqtada al-Sadr refused talks with Iraqi lawmakers visiting neighbouring Iran in a bid to end clashes between his fighters and troops.

On Thursday, US Lieutenant Colonel Steven Stover said troops “positively identified” militiamen and killed eight in separate incidents overnight.

In a separate statement, the military said it also killed a known “Iranian-sponsored Special Groups leader” in an air strike in Sadr City on Thursday.—AFP